הבה
Hebrew
Etymology
| Root |
|---|
| י־ה־ב (y-h-b) |
| 2 terms |
Properly from the imperative of יָהַב (yaháv, “to give”) with the suffix ־ָה, i.e. הַב (hav) + ־ָה (-a), which is then lengthened from הֲבָה to הָבָה.[1]
Pronunciation
- (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA(key): /ˈ(h)ava/
Verb
הָבָה • (háva) m sg (pa'al construction, feminine singular הָבִי, masculine plural הָבוּ)
- Let's: used before first-person plural future-tense verbs to invite someone to join in an action
- Tanach, Genesis 11:14, with translation of the King James Version:
- הבה נבנה לנו עיר
- Go to, let us build us a city
- Exodus 1:10, with translation of the King James Version:
- הָבָה נִּתְחַכְּמָה לוֹ
- Come on, let us deal wisely with them
- c. 1918, Hava nagila:
- הבה נגילה ונשמחה
- Let's rejoice and be happy
- Used before first-person singular future-tense verbs to indicate an intent to perform an action soon
- give
- Tanach, Genesis 29:21, with translation of the New International Version:
- וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב אֶל־לָבָן הָבָה אֶת־אִשְׁתִּי כִּי מָלְאוּ יָמָי וְאָבוֹאָה אֵלֶֽיהָ׃
- Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”
- Judges 1:15:
- הָבָה לִּי בְרָכָה
- Give me a blessing
Usage notes
- This is a defective irregular verb found only in the imperative (and for the masculine singular, especially the long imperative). The rare masculine singular short imperative form is הַב.
References
- ^ Gesenius, Wilhelm (1910) Hebrew Grammar, page 307, §105b